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Want to Know More About Justin Morneau?

Want to Know More About Justin Morneau?

June 25, 2007

Fans of the reigning American League Most Valuable Player Justin Morneau have developed a website dedicated to the Minnesota Twins’ first-baseman. JustinMorneau.com. The site was developed during the second half of the 2006 season when Morneau went on his MVP tear.  The man in charge of the site, Shaun Hagglund, remembers how it all started. “A graphic designer friend, Ben Peters, came up with the ‘33 For MVP’ slogan and t-shirt design and we ran a grassroots campaign to get Morneau ‘Elected’ the MVP,” says Mr. Hagglund. “We originally hoped to sell a few dozen shirts but ended up going through a couple of thousand,” added Mr. Hagglund. From there, permission was asked to put together the fan site to which Morneau agreed under the condition that a portion of the proceeds be donated to Baseball Canada for which he has played a key role in the National Teams program over the years.  Morneau does not profit from the site. The site contains a News and Notes section on the former Junior and Senior National Teams member and a Fan Shop where fans can get merchandise such as hats, t-shirts, bats and autographs.  There is also a Message Board where fans can talk about Justin or baseball in general. To visit the site, click on the logo or visit http://justinmorneau.com.  

Two Canadians Named to the All-Star Futures Game

Two Canadians Named to the All-Star Futures Game

June 22, 2007

Joey Votto of Toronto, Ontario and Mike Saunders of Victoria, B.C. were selected to participate in the All-Star Futures Game on July 8th in San Francisco to kick off the festivities of All-Star weekend. Votto, a first baseman with the Louisville Bats in Triple-A in the Cincinnati Reds organization, is hitting .314 with nine home runs and 41 RBI in 70 games this season.  This is the second time that the former Senior National Team member has been selected to the Futures Game. Saunders is hitting .307 with 10 homers and 51 runs driven in for the High Desert Mavericks in Class-A in the Seattle Mariners organization.  The outfielder and former Junior and Senior National Team member will be participating in the Futures Game for the first time. The All-Star Futures Game is an exhibition featuring prospects that are divided into two teams, Team USA and the World Team.  The players selected to participate are chosen by all 30 Major League clubs in conjunction with Baseball America and MLB.com.  In total, 12 countries will be represented in this year’s edition of the game.

A Career of Lasting Impressions

A Career of Lasting Impressions

June 21, 2007

What started as something to do after his playing days were done, John Haar took the proverbial bull by the horns and took his first coaching opportunity and made it into a Hall of Fame career, and what a career it has been. On Saturday, June 23rd, Haar will be inducted into Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame along with Sparky Anderson and Sherry Robertson. “It’s truly an honour,” says Haar.  “Never did I ever imagine that I would’ve been selected for something like this.” His coaching career started after he decided to call it quits as a player, reaching the Double-A level with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees organizations.  He would get his start with the British Columbia Selects team before getting in with Baseball Canada and coaching internationally. His first coaching assignment with Team Canada was at the Intercontinental Cup in 1975.  He would gradually move up the coaching ranks with the National Teams program until becoming the field manager in 1986 for Canada’s entry in the World Cup in Cuba. He also would help lead Canada to qualify for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in 1987. But in 1991, Haar was at the helm for arguably the greatest moment in Canadian baseball history.  At the World Junior Baseball Championships in Brandon, Manitoba, the hometown Canadians did what no other National Team has done before or since, win a gold medal. “We had a great bunch of kids that worked well together,” says Haar.  “Those kids accepted their roles no matter what they were and worked hard.  Some people say that chemistry in a team is not necessary, but I firmly believe if we hadn’t of had chemistry, we wouldn’t have done as well as we did.” One of those kids on that team was Jason Dickson.  Dickson, who was the final player selected to that 91 team, has gone on to a Major League career, appearing in the 1997 All-Star Game while with the Anaheim Angels.  He was a member of the 2004 Olympic Team in Athens and is now Executive Director for Baseball New Brunswick and is a coach with the Junior National Team program. “He did a great job helping us prepare to compete, most of us for the first time, at the international level,” says Dickson.  A moment that gave the young team some confidence in the tournament was there comeback win against the heavily favoured Team USA.  After falling behind 4-0 in the second inning, Haar put in Dickson in relief of Joe Young with one out in the second to try and stop the bleeding.  Dickson would shut down the Americans for 5 2/3 innings, allowing only one run in Canada’s 10-6 victory. “The confidence he showed in me after almost being cut, to put me in that situation was very uplifting,” remembers Dickson. At the most recent Baseball Canada Cup, Dickson who was coaching the New Brunswick Selects team faced off against his former Junior coach, who was at the helm of Team B.C. “It was kind of funny, because he was coaching the B.C. Selects and I was coming back as a coach and competing against him,” says Dickson.  “It was a full-circle moment.” Another member of that magical team was Stubby Clapp.  Currently a hitting coach with the Houston Astros Extended Spring Training Squad, Clapp has gone on to compete at every level of baseball both professionally, and internationally. One thing sticks out for Clapp concerning Haar. “He was intense,” remembers Clapp.  “He was intense about the game and I have nothing but gratitude toward him because he gave me an opportunity to play.”  “There was an older kid who was ready to play third,” adds Clapp, “instead he took me and that had a real significant impact on my baseball career.” Clapp, who has always had to prove himself in the game because of his size (he’s 5’8”), was given some words of advice that stuck with him his entire career. “He always told me ‘keep going.  You’re on the right track,’” says Clapp. Gary Picone was Haar’s pitching coach on that 91 team and is now the Athletic Director with Lewis-Clark State College.  He sees Haar as a savvy tactician. “John is much respected in the baseball world,” says Picone.  “He has such a wide knowledge of the game and I know when he was with the NBI, college coaches respected his knowledge of the game.” The NBI is the now defunct National Baseball Institute which Haar was the manager for 14 years. “In my time there, we worked closely with Baseball Canada on developing players and getting them ready for college, and life in general,” says Haar. Before his journey started toward the Hall of Fame, Haar would pass a lot of time with the man who influenced him in life. “My father is the one who gave me my love for the game,” recalls Haar.  “We would play catch in the backyard and he taught me a lot about the game.” “I would post my lineup in the backyard and I would play for hours… I had a wild imagination,” adds Haar with a laugh. John Haar has influenced a lot of people over his coaching career.  He has a lasting influence that very few people in the game can claim.  His induction in to the Hall is well deserved “He has a passion for the game,” says Picone.  “He doesn’t have an ego.  He is not in it for himself; he’s in it to help others.  He is the only man I know who lives that on and off the field.”

Guiel Saves Police Dog

Guiel Saves Police Dog

June 20, 2007

Former 2004 Olympic Team member Jeff Guiel of North Vancouver, B.C. saved a police dog from drowning in the Capilano River in West Vancouver last June 13th. Guiel, who is now a police officer with the West Vancouver Police Force, was in pursuit of a suspect when he called Cpl. Jag Johal and his dog, Stryker. Johal was holding the dog’s leash when his slipped and fell and the German shepherd lept into the river’s current. “He was trying to come back to shore,” says Guiel in an interview with The Province, “but everytime he came close to shore, the current would push him further away.” “It wasn’t really any kind of thought process… I just really never thought about it,” adds Guiel. The former Olympian dove into the water and was able to grab the dog’s leash and bring back the 35-kilogram German shepherd back to shore.  Stryker was able to pick up the scent and kept tracking the suspect, but the man got away. “I was kind of choked up when Jeff saved him,” says Johal.  “I couldn’t thank him enough.” Guiel started with the force last month.  Stryker is a five year veteran of the department.

MLB Open Tryout Camps are set

MLB Open Tryout Camps are set

June 19, 2007

It’s that time of year again!  The Major League Baseball Central Scouting Bureau will hold its open tryouts camps in various Canadian cities this summer.  Here are the camps’ dates:   July 24th Tues 10am – Calgary, AB – Optimist Athletic Park July 25th Wed 10am – Courtright, ON – Centennial Park July 26th Thurs 10am – Dartmouth, NS – Beazley Field August 6th Mon 10am – Ottawa, ON – Heritage Park August 7th Tues 10am – Montreal, QC – Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park August 14th Tues 10am – Welland, ON – Welland Sports Complex August 15th Wed 10am – Toronto, ON – Bond Park   Tryouts are open to all players aged 15 through 23. To participate, every player must have a completed waiver form. Players under the age of 21 must have it co-signed by a parent or legal guardian. To obtain the waiver form, click here.  For further information contact Canadian Supervisor Walt Burrows at walt.burrows@mlb.com  

Begg Named Pitcher of the Week

Begg Named Pitcher of the Week

June 14, 2007

Chris Begg of Uxbridge, Ontario was named the Pacific Coast League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 4-10. The right-handed pitcher of the Fresno Grizzles, affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, pitched the first complete game shutout of the season when he went the distance in a 3-0 win over Las Vegas.  He only gave up three hits, one walk and struck out four in the outing. The former Senior National Team member and former 2004 Olympic Team member has a 5-1 mark with a 3.28 ERA with eight walks and 25 strikeouts in eight games with the Grizzles this season.

Martin leads NL catchers in All-Star votes

Martin leads NL catchers in All-Star votes

June 12, 2007

Russell Martin of Chelsea, Québec has taken the lead among National League catchers in voting for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which will take place on July 10 in San Francisco. The Los Angeles Dodgers star and former Junior and Senior National Team member leapfrogged Paul Lo Duca of the New York Mets and Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves to lead the voting. The 24-year-old catcher is in his second Major League season and leads the Dodgers with 40 RBIs and 39 runs scored.  He is batting .299 with seven home runs and has 10 stolen bases. There is still time to vote for Russell and other players for the MLB All-Star Game.  Go to MLB.com and vote for all the deserving all-stars.  Voting ends on June 28.

Big Day for Canadians on the Second Day of MLB Draft

Big Day for Canadians on the Second Day of MLB Draft

June 09, 2007

The first day of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft saw five Canadians selected, including Phillippe Aumont of Gatineau, Québec who was selected 11th overall by the Seattle Mariners. On the second day of the MLB draft, 28 Canadians were selected.  A total of 33 Canadians were selected over the two day event.  Here are the Canadians selected on the second day of the draft: RHP Evan Hildenbrandt; Abbotsford, B.C. (6th round, 199th/Reds) RHP Guillaume Leduc; Boucherville, QC (6th round, 213th/Mets) OF Tim Smith; Toronto, ON (7th round, 230th/Rangers) RHP Chris Kissock; Fruitvale, B.C. (9th round, 293rd/Phillies) C Joel Collins; Richmond Hill, ON (10th round, 225th/Blue Jays) C Jordan Wideman; Mississauga, ON (11th round, 349th/Reds) SS Steve Condotta; Mississauga, ON (13th round, 385th/Blue Jays) C Chris Dennis; Amherstburg, ON (13th round, 401st/Brewers) RHP Colin Buckborough; Niagara Falls, ON (16th round, 495th/Mariners) RHP John Mariotti; Toronto, ON (18th round, 549th/Orioles) RHP Henry Mabee; Victoria, B.C. (19th round, 599th/White Sox) 1B Cameron Robulack; Toronto, ON (20th round, 611th/Brewers) 1B Mitch Delaney; LaSalle, ON (21st round, 659th/White Sox) SS Kyle Gilligan; Etobicoke, ON (27th round, 835th/Blue Jays) RHP Travis Nevakshonoff; Castlegaar, B.C. (29th round, 881st/Brewers) C Kirk Bacsu; Maple Creek, SK (32nd round, 982nd/Phillies) CF Ryan Jensen; Langley, B.C. (33rd round, 999th/Brewers) CF Cody Phipps; Round Hill, AB (33rd round, 1009th/Astros) RHP Tom Boleska; Burlington, ON (35th round, 1054th/Pirates) RHP Kyle Benoit; Brampton, ON (36th round, 1098th/Brewers) LHP Kai Tuomi; Sault Ste. Marie, ON (40th round, 1197th/Nationals) RHP Adam Arnold; London, ON (41st round, 1224th/Brewers) OF Terrell Alliman; Waterloo, ON (43rd round, 1290th/Angels) RHP Kyle Haas, Pitt Meadows, B.C. (46th round, 1356th/Mariners) INF Devery Van de Keere; Barrhead, AB (48th round, 1392nd/Royals) RHP Michael Henry; Sarnia, ON (48th round, 1404th/Reds) RHP Cameron Gray; Toronto, ON (49th round, 1425th/Reds) OF Nick Purdy; Cobourg, ON (50th round, 1486th/Mariners) Baseball Canada would like to congratulate all the Canadians selected during the two days of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

Five Canadians Taken in First Day of Draft

Five Canadians Taken in First Day of Draft

June 08, 2007

The first day of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft saw five Canadians taken within the first four rounds.  Here are the players chosen: RHP Phillippe Aumont, Gatineau, QC (1st round, 11th/Mariners) RHP Kyle Lotzkar, Delta, B.C. (1st round*, 53rd/Reds) RHP Trystan Magnuson, Vancouver, B.C. (1st round*, 56th/Blue Jays) C Lars Davis, Grande Prairie, AB (3rd round, 102nd/Rockies) RHP Mitch Hodge, Vancouver, B.C. (4th round, 106th/Royals) Aumont is the highest Canadian chosen in the draft since Adam Loewen of Surrey, B.C. was chosen fourth overall and Jeff Francis of Vancouver, B.C. was chosen ninth overall in 2002. The First Year Player Draft continues Friday with rounds 6 to 50 and it is expected that many more Canadians will be selected.  The second day of the draft starts at 11:30 am ET.   * supplemental pick

New Executive Director at IBAF

New Executive Director at IBAF

June 08, 2007

The President of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), Dr. Harvey Schiller, announced that Miquel Ortin, the IBAF Executive Director, has been relieved of his duties as Executive Director effective immediately. “We have received advice from Miquel and his medical advisors that Miquel will be unable to return to work for at least the next 12 months and that he will require long-term recuperation,” says Dr. Schiller in a written statement. “This was a most difficult decision as Miquel has been the IBAF Executive Director since 1993,” adds Dr. Schiller.  “But with the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games and campaign for baseball to be re-admitted as an Olympic Sport in the 2016 Olympic Games, the IBAF faced no other alternative as a full time, focused Executive Director was required.” Dr. Schiller also added that John Ostermeyer will replace Mr. Ortin as Executive Director on an interim basis.



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